WRAP: Jaguares v Brumbies
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby semi-final between the Jaguares and the Brumbies in Buenos Aires.
After a disastrous start to the season in which they lost four of six matches, the South Americans have won their last six to reach the last-four stage for the first time.
The Brumbies were equally slow out of the blocks and trailed the Rebels in the Australia section before a dramatic improvement led to a franchise-record seven straight wins.
While the Argentines are eyeing a first appearance in a Final only three years after debuting, the Brumbies hope to reach the title decider a fourth time – having won the competition twice.
Read the full preview for the Jaguares v Brumbies here.
Previous results
2019: Jaguares won 20-15, Buenos Aires
2018: Jaguares won 25-20, Canberra
2017: Brumbies won 39-15, Buenos Aires
Prediction, teams and match details
Prediction: The Jaguares have won their last two Super Rugby games on the bounce against the Brumbies, each by a margin of exactly five points. The spoils are split one win apiece between the Jaguares and Brumbies when playing in Argentina in Super Rugby; the Brumbies picked up a 24-point win in their first ever meeting in the country. The Jaguares have won 10 of their last 12 Super Rugby games on the bounce in Argentina, including their last five on the bounce –their longest home winning streak in the competition. The Jaguares have won their last five games on the bounce against Australian opposition; however, four of those five wins were decided by a single-digit margin. The Brumbies have won their last seven Super Rugby games on the bounce; the last time they won more was an eight-game stretch across the 2004 and 2005 campaigns which included lifting the Super Rugby trophy in the 2004 season. The Brumbies have won only two of their previous seven post-season games away from home in Super Rugby, with both of those wins coming in South Africa (vs Bulls in 2013, vs Stormers in 2015). The Jaguares have made 26 kicks in play per game in Super Rugby 2019, more than any other team in the competition and eight per game more than the Brumbies. The Brumbies have scored 42 first-half tries in Super Rugby 2019, more than any other team in the competition and 15 more than the Jaguares (27). The Jaguares’ Guido Petti Pagadizaval (81) has won more line-outs (including steals) than any other player in Super Rugby 2019; however, Brumbies duo Rory Arnold (78) and Sam Carter (69) are ranked second and third respectively. Thomas Banks (Brumbies) has scored seven tries in his last eight Super Rugby games outside Australia, including one in each of his last three such fixtures
Prediction: Jaguares
Margin: Six points
Teams:
Jaguares: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Matias Moroni, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 21 Domingo Miotti, 22 Ramiro Moyano.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Lealiifano (captain), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Lachlan Mccaffrey, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Connal Mcinerney, 17 James Slipper, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Murray Douglas, 21 Jahrome Brown, 22 Matt Lucas, 23 Tom Wright.
Date: Friday, June 28
Venue: Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires
Kick-off: 20:05 (23.05 GMT; 09.05 Canberra time, Saturday, June 29)
Live: Jaguares v Brumbies
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